"A White Rose, A Red Rose" - Epilogue Well folks, this is it! The end of the story! I really hope you have enjoyed it! I had fun writing it! This is the last part, and then my obligation are complete! Do you think I should do another, or stop? Would you read it if I wrote something else? Not a lot of people seem to read this one, so would it be worth writing another story? Tell me what you think! If I get at least, maybe, seven people telling me that they want another story, I may find it in my heart to write another. I love spinning webs, so telling stories is lots of fun! Tell if you want another story! Disclaimers: The heart cries out in sorrow, tears run down the cheeks, but what could cause such a sorrowful lament, but the loss of love? A tale told and not finished, a song that is left unsung, a picture that is left unpainted, a heart that is left out in the cold, these are all reasons to cry, to let your feeling fly. But can you soar with your heart broken, can you pick up speed and flap your wings? Is it not just to let all drop, to let yourself fall, then to pick yourself up? But they say to fall seven times and stand up eight, is that advice you can take? OK, I know, this is not exactly a disclaimer, but just take it! Read someone else's disclaimers if you want a real one! Don't press me! I don't own Sailor Moon, there, are you happy?!!! (sob, sniffle, weep) I don't own it! ~~~~~~~~~~~ (you're so weird! - Chichiri) You know, no one has e-mailed with disclaimer ideas, I'm hurt! Thanks though to the two of you who answered my question about the Jupiter story! For those of you who might be wondering it is called "D C al Fine" and is by Lady Jupiter. Thanks to the two of you who told me!!!!! OK, so I want to say thank you to all those who have encouraged me on this endeavor! I really appreciate it! THANK YOU! And everyone, I want you to give a big THANK YOU to Chichiri, my one-chan, who has faithfully edited my work! She's great! And also, Melinda, Usagi, Minako, Hotaru, Eike, Setsuna, Mars, Jupiter, and all my other WONDERFUL friends deserve a HUGE THANK YOU as well!!! Thank you ALL! Your great!!!!!! Never forget you have my gratitude, and if you ever need a favour, just ask me! I would love to help! THANKS EVER SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!! "A White Rose, A Red Rose" - Epilogue @-->-->--- "Mamochan, my Mamochan, Aishiteru! Aishiteru!" Usagi woke with a start. Quickly she sat up in bed, her open window allowed a cool breeze to wash across her shaking body. She turned and looked out the window, the Moon still hung high up in the sky, beckoning to her with its warm glow, calming her thoughts and stilling the rapid beating of her heart. Unknown to her, her own body responded to the glow of the Moon with its own, calling back out to the Moon whispering down to her. 'It was that dream again,' Usagi thought as she gazed up at the Moon, seemingly drawing strength from it. 'But I can never remember it fully when I wake up, I can never remember what it was that happened, only that there was someone who loved me, was a part of me. That and something about the Moon, Terra, and Roses. Oh . . . if only I could remember what happened, it is a part of me as my own family, but I can't remember it. Why is it that I can walk down the street and all of a sudden think that something is familiar, when I have never seen it before?! The girl at the temple, Hino Rei, I feel like I should know her, be her friend. But she just gave me a weird look when I said HI, and said she was busy. There is something, I just can't recall . . . " Usagi ran her slender white fingers through her long hair. The Moon light washed over it turning it silver for a moment. The silver was no trick of the light, however, it was real, pure silver, just as her hair was normally gold. Her eyes flashed silverish as well, calling out to the Moon. The shining orb responded, glowing brighter for a brief moment. Sighing Usagi climbed out of her bed and threw on a pair of jeans and a shirt. Quickly she wrapped her hair up in its usual two balls on either side of her head, the remainder of her hair streaming down her back almost to her feet. Silently she climbed over her bed and slid out the window, slipping down the tree that grew up next to the house. Her feet hit the ground with a soft thud, like a cat jumping to the ground. Usagi took off, running down the street like the wind, her hair streaming out behind her. Grace seemed to flow from her and the wind seemed to bear her up off the ground, allowing her to run faster. The Moon smiled down at her from above, watching her procede through the quiet streets of a sleeping Tokyo. Moon beams seemed to follow her every move, and a soft light seemed to emanate from the girl herself. @-->-->--- "Usako, don't cry . . . Aishiteru . . ." Mamoru woke up with a start, breathing heavily. 'No don't cry Usako, you can't cry. My heart can't take it when you do,' were the first thoughts to pass through his head. Quickly he sat up and rubbed the sleep form his eyes. It was the dream again, the same one he had every night, and could never fully remember. Mamoru slid from his bed and walked to the bathroom to take a shower. It had almost become his morning ritual, to wake up at this unearthly hour, take a shower and then go out to see the morning star. For some reason he always had to go out and watch the morning star, he had not missed it for years, in fact, he could not remember a morning when he had not watched for that star. It was a constant in his life when there were so few to be had. No matter what happened she was always there, shinning brightly in the sky, almost as if she were wanting him to come watch her. And it was always the dream that woke him in time to go see her, always. (hee hee - chichiri) The hot water from the shower swept over Mamoru's tall body as he ran his fingers through his jet black hair in frustration. It was like this many mornings, the frustration of not being able to remember, there were so many things, so many important faces, but above all he wanted to remember the dream. But all that ever came to mind was that there was a girl, nea, a woman who loved him more than anything, who was a part of him, and he loved her in return. He leaned back against the wall and sighed deeply, she had cried, and it still rang through his thought. It was agony, agony to hear her voice raised in such sorrow, agony to think that a tear might fall down her angelic face, the face he could not remember. He had woken earlier than usual, before the dream was done, and that had allowed him to remember her tears, but that was all. His heart still cried out to her, telling her not to cry, telling her that he loved her dearly. But it was no use, he did not even know her face. But there was the name, the name that his thoughts had screamed to him as he had woken up so sharply just moments ago. 'Usako . . . the full name must be Usagi, but Usako is so much more endearing. My little rabbit . . . ' he thought to himself, closing his eyes. Once he had dressed he walked out onto his balcony, a balcony that overlooked sleeping Tokyo. The Moon shone fully tonight, trailing her light over the city. Stars twinkled merrily in the sky, but the sky itself was black, like a deep velvet. The Moon seemed to smile down at him, as if trying to tell him that all would be well, as if there was no reason for his heart to weep. But his heart continued to cry out, not only with the pain of her tears, but also for the other lost memories, the loss of his childhood. Mamoru's stormy blue eyes flashed as he stared up at the sky, staring toward the morning star. Perhaps stars are just people that stare down at the Earth, for if that were so Mamoru's eyes surely would have given light to the stars. ("cool!" - chichiri) The sun began to rise in the distance, lighting the just waking world. Sighing Mamoru turned back into his apartment where he lived alone, another sigh escaping his lips. @-->-->--- Usagi reached her destination, the park, and immediately went toward the rose gardens. She smelled the roses, enjoying the feel of their soft petals under her finger tips. The red and white roses attracted her especially, as they always had. Reaching up, Usagi touched the base of her neck, thinking of the mark that rested there. To her eyes it seemed to be a pure white rose, always blooming. But to others it was just a strange birthmark, darkish on one end and white on the other, the only 'blemish' marking her pure skin. But to her it was a perfect rose, with green stem to pure white petals, somehow connected to her dreams. 'Someday I will meet someone who sees my rose, someone to who the smell and feel of the rose means as much to them as it does to me,' she thought as she turned toward the lake, giving the roses one last look. Usagi walked over to the lake slowly, and slumped down on the bench that, had become 'her' bench, over the years she had repeated this ritual. The first rays of sunlight broke over the horizon, causing Usagi to smile, her first one that morning. Her smile was something worth waiting eons to see, for it was filled with joy and light. It brightened anyone's day if they saw it while passing her on the street, and even more if that smile was directed toward them. The sun rose higher and higher in the sky, causing the final stars to disappear and the darkness to be dispersed. The Moon was gone, the precious light that gave her strength was gone for the morning, not to return until the eventide. Usagi stood up, her spirits soaring, the day was going to be beautiful, little clouds were scattered through the sky and birds were singing to greet the dawn. Walking over to the lake shore Usagi stared at it. 'If only I was able to ice skate now, with no one in the park. It would be wonderful, the rinks are always so full, I don't like skating when there are millions of people, but if I could just freeze this lake, and then get myself a pair of skates, then it would be perfect . . . well, perfect if HE were here.' Usagi laughed and the silvery sound rippled across the waters, stirring them. 'It is more likely that I would be able to freeze the lake myself than the possibility of HIM being here, maybe someday . . . ' With that thought Usagi turned and began to run back toward her home. She closed her eyes as she began to move, allowing the fresh rays of sunlight to soak her face like a thousand kisses. Usagi had run this way so often that she knew every turn and every crack like the back of her hand, and so she continued to run, despite the fact her eyes were closed. 'Even if it is impossible, I would still like to meet him. I would still like to be able to remember my dreams and to be able to tell if I know the man, the man who loves me . . . ' Even as she thought innocently, Usagi was unaware of what she had done as the lake shimmered. Her wish was its command and she had desired it to freeze. It did so, freezing in the very position that it had been. Cold air rose from the lake, chilling the surrounding areas. But her thoughts did not hold it, and it shimmered again turning back to water. ("spiffy!"- chichiri) @-->-->--- Mamoru walked out of his apartment building and glanced up at the sky, it was still early morning, plenty of time for his morning jog. He started running down the familiar path, the path he ran every morning. But his jog was not going to remain the same as it usually did. As he turned the first corner another body came flying around the corner, and collided with his own. The first thing he noticed was that the person was small, and definietly a female. The girl pulled back quickly and began to bow rapidly to him, apologizing for what she had done. Her hair was golden, cascading down her back from two balls, one on either side of her head. Mamoru was surprised, something about the girl was familiar, very familiar. He just stared at her, not saying a word, just trying to remember where he had seen her, where he knew her from. For some reason he felt the urge just to take her in his arms and kiss her. Suddenly he realized that the girl was looking at him, as if he was supposed to say something, and so words flew out of his mouth, the only ones he could think of. "Did you know that your hair looks like odango atama?" he asked, immediately regretting it. The girl immediately began to glare at him, sending shivers down his spine with her glare. But as she glared at him he noticed a small mark, almost like a white rose gracing the base of her neck. But even as he noticed it a red rose seemed to appear beside it, and the two entwined their stems together. @-->-->--- Usagi glared at the man she had just run into. "Odango atama? I apologize to you and you tell me my hair looks like odango atama?! Well, your head looks like a Raven's nest!" she snapped back. "Needn't get so uppity, Odango atama, I was only making a comment." Even as he spoke Mamoru felt like kicking himself, he had no idea why he was saying such things. "And now you call me that, you are positively the rudest man I have ever met! Raven head. And my name is . . . actually, why should I tell you my name. You'll probably just try to stalk me. So good day mister!" with that Usagi trounced off, pausing only momentarily to look back. As soon as she rounded another corner she stopped and closed her eyes, leaning against a wall. 'I had to get out of there, otherwise I don't know what I would have done. I felt like running into his arms and just having him hold me. Why did I suddenly feel like that, it isn't normal!' Usagi slumped against the wall and put her head in her hands, trying to sort through her wayward thoughts. 'I felt as if I should know him, and as if he should know me . . . and, well . . . as if he should love me, almost like HIM. But it scares me to feel like that, I'm to young to feel anything that deep for anyone . . . but then I feel like that toward HIM . . . could it possibly be? No, he was mean, that biting remark was cruel, but in a way it showed concern . . . ' Usagi's thoughts ran on quickly, and she could feel her heartbeat racing. Slowly the confused girl stood up, shaking her head. 'I don't have time for this, I have to get home before my mother sees that I am gone, but what am I doing in this part of town, I never come here. Though I was closing my eyes as I ran, and thinking about HIM, but then I always think about HIM. I wonder why I ended here . . . ' With those final thoughts the angelic girl took off running, and did not stop until she was back in her room and in bed. @-->-->--- Mamoru stared off after the angelic girl that fled from him. He noticed how she stopped for the briefest of seconds and stared back at him, almost as if she did not want to leave. He certainly did not want her to. Mamoru felt an overwhelming urge to run after the girl, and beg her to tell him who she was. But then why would she tell him anything, why would she even speak a word to him, he had obviously insulted her. 'Why did I say that? How could I have been so cruel to the poor girl, I don't usually even pay anyone attention, much less want to kiss them at first sight. I have never felt like that toward any girl except Usako. Could she be . . . no, it would be to perfect for her to live here, she can't exist . . . can she?' Mamoru pounded a nearby wall with his fist in frustration. Not having any desire to finish his run, he turned back and went to his apartment. @-->-->--- The day wore on and soon the sun was begining its downward course through the blue sky. Mamoru sat in the arcade with his best friend, Motoki. Mamoru began to gather his books, preparing to leave for the library. "Hey there, Mamoru, why don't you hang around here a while longer. You always leave for the library just when everyone starts to arrive," Motoki asked him as he wiped a counter down. "That is the reason why I leave at this point, to avoid the crowds. Why do you want me to stay around today?" Mamoru asked, not even pausing as he packed his bags. "You study to much, I just want too see you take a break from studying. You know what, there is this really nice girl that comes in here almost daily to play the Sailor V game, why don't you stick around and challenge her. She is really good, you would have a good match. . ." "No thank you Motoki, I need to study," Mamoru said, chuckling as he headed toward the door. Stopping just before he came in range for them to slide open Mamoru turned back to his friend and asked, "Motoki, do you think that any one can truly live after they have experienced real love?" "What? It this Chiba Mamoru asking me this question?" Motoki asked in surprise, laughter filling his voice as he spoke. "The question is serious. Let us just say that in the past two people were madly in love and they both died. Years later the two were both reborn, would either of them truly live until they found the other?" Mamoru asked, the look in his eyes silencing his laughing friend. "That is a hard question, but I would have to say no. After someone has experienced true love they cannot live without each other. They will always find each other no matter what, no matter what may happen. Nothing can break true love, not even death. True love unites two people and makes them one, to separate them is like tearing a single person in two, it is like asking if man can truly live when he is only half a man. He can in a sense, but not really, truly live," Motoki answered thoughtfully. "It is like Rita and I, no matter how long we may be separated, how long it is until we see each other, we always come back, always. Nothing can really separate us, I mean we have been a couple since kindergarten! Why do you ask anyhow?" "Thanks Motoki, but I have to go now. Sore Ja Mata Ne," Mamoru said, quickly walking toward the door. "Ja Ne, but you really ought to stick around and challenge Usagi, she is really good!" Motoki called after him. The doors closed behind Mamoru as he called out the last words, but Mamoru heard them. The name that Motoki had uttered caused him to stop in midstep, his mind racing. 'Usagi, Usako, could it be? Is it like Motoki said, could she be here? Now?" Mamoru glanced back at the arcade, Motoki was back to wiping counters and dusting the machines. 'No, it could not be her, just another girl called Usagi, cute name though,' he decided. But even as he decided that it could not be her, he found himself walking slowly, as if trying to stay a bit longer to see the girl. But his slow gait was halted as he heard someone farther down the street call out, "Usagi, wait up, the arcade is not going to disappear!" Mamoru quickly spotted the girl who had called out and followed her gaze. It ended on a girl that was running straight toward him, and turning back to shout to her friend. "Naru, I know that, but I think I thought of a way . . . " her call was stopped as her body collided with the stunned Mamoru. The girl immediately began to bow and apologize. Mamoru just watched her, amazed. A slight chuckle escaped his lips and the girl stopped apologizing to look up at him. When she got a good look at him her mouth dropped open. "You . . . " "Hello again, I did not imagine that I would have the good fortune of running into you twice today," he said, smiling down at her. @-->-->--- Usagi looked up at the man she had just run into. It was the same man that she had run into earlier the same day, the one that she had run from. Her heart beat faster in her chest and she prayed that he would not hear it. "You . . . " the word escaped her mouth before she could hold it back. But the man did not seem to mind, instead he simply replied, "Hello again, I did not imagine that I would have the good fortune of running into you twice today," and so saying he smiled down at her, making her heart want to melt and her knees feel like they were buckling beneath her. "Are you OK, Odango atama?" he asked, concern filling his voice as he reached out a hand to steady her gently. A shock seemed to go through his hand when he touched her and he once again felt the urge to hold her in his arms. "Don't call me that," Usagi whispered, trying to sound angry, "My name is U-SA-GI, I am not a food." her voice rose a little, but by no means to an angry shout. The man leaned forward, down to her, and then whispered in her ear, "Well then, have a good day, Usagi." And with that he seemed to disappear. Usagi stared after him and Naru came up beside her. "Who was that?" Naru asked, her voice in an awed hush. "He is HOT! How do you know him?" "I don't know who he is, but that is the second time I have run straight into him today," Usagi answered, still staring off into space. Voices seemed to ring in her head, her dream replaying in her mind. Usagi felt her heart racing, trying to tell her something, but her head refused to hear it, it was like they were speaking two different languages. "Naru, I have a sudden headache, would you mind if I just go home now?" Usagi asked, her head truly pounding. "Girl, you must really be sick to pass up a chance to the arcade, but if you really want to go home, I'll walk you there," Naru offered, concern filing her voice. "Thank you Naru, but I would not want to spoil your afternoon, please, go on without me. I'll just walk home, it is not all that far anyhow. Thanks," Usagi answered, her voice quiet. So saying she turned and began to walk in the direction of her home. "See you tomorrow Usagi, take care of yourself!" Naru called after her. Usagi walked on, her head bowed. It felt as though her heart were crying in her chest, crying to be understood and crying out in pain, in longing. 'I don't understand it, I feel like I do in my dreams, when HE gets hurt. If only I could remember what happened, how it is that I always see . . . maybe then I could understand what is happening. Perhaps then. But it is no use is it, I'll keep dreaming and my heart will keep crying. And my mind will not remember, will block itself against what it needs to know most. I feel like I am at war with myself, like I am trying to do battle with my own blood and spirit,' she thought as she walked slowly onward. Soon she reached her home and walked up to her room without announcing her presence. Throwing her book bag in the corner she slumped down against the wall and rested her golden head in her hands. Soon the troubled girl was asleep, yet still the tears continued to steam down her face, only to hit the ground as crystals, breaking with the impact. @-->-->--- Mamoru sat in the library, engrossed in his studies. he had tried to study physics and then chemistry, but the only thing that he could concentrate on seemed to be astronomy, especially the Moon. But even as he read that his mind continually drifted to Usagi. Finally, giving up, he put the books aside and looked at the clock, 6:30 already. He quickly gathered his own books together and left the library. 'I just wasted that whole time in there thinking about her. The only thing I could even study was the Moon, I wonder why? (hee hee) Ever since I ran into that girl this morning I have not been able to get her out of my head. Perhaps she is Usako, my Princess. Perhaps . . . I will have to stay at the arcade longer tomorrow and keep an eye out for her. Maybe she knows something about the whole thing . . . but then perhaps I am wishing too much and I will only be disappointed . . . I can't go on like this much longer though, I have to see her, meet her, I can't go on feeling like a part of me is missing, like half my heart is gone. How can God, how can the fates expect a person to live like this. But then do I want to meet her? Perhaps my dreams are misleading, perhaps I am only fooling myself. Maybe I should go and see a doctor. Oh, who am I fooling, I can't stay away from her if I tried, my heart is screaming that at me,' Mamoru thought as he trudged wearily home. But even after he reached his apartment, a place that usually calmed him, he still could not stop his worried thinking. his heart still cried out, telling him that she was unhappy, that he should be with her, comforting her. His wall suffered greatly that night as he hit it several times, in a failing attempt to relieve his suffering. But everything he did was to no avail, nothing helped and the longer he stayed in his apartment the more he felt like he was going mad. Finally he decided to flee to the park, perhaps in the quiet of the night, in the solitude of the trees he would find some peace. @-->-->--- Usagi woke, still curled up against the wall. Her heart was pounding and she felt like the walls were closing in upon her. Glancing at the clock she saw that it was already 11:00, her parents would be asleep, so she crept out her window, breathing in the fresh air. Usagi quickly lowered herself down the tree and began to run, not just for the joy of running like she usually did. She felt as if something was after her, or perhaps had her, she had to escape, to run away, to flee. She felt as if she were being pulled along, along quickly toward the park. So she followed the pull in an effort to relieve herself from the tension that was built up in her heart. 'Mamochan, where are you?' she thought as she ran, not knowing how she suddenly knew his name. But with the name came a sense of need, a need to see him, a need to cry into his arms and just be held there. The wind seemed to lift her up, to make her fly along and give her the extra speed that she needed. A silver glow surrounded her once again as she raced along. Her blood boiled in her veins, screaming out against what was happening to her, but her heart and mind ignored it, saying her blood was wrong, that she should fly forward. Soon she reached the park, and her bright glow faded to a gentle pulse, almost invisible. She walked into the rose garden in search of some comfort. But she found none, the roses seemed cold and distant, like they lacked that which gave them life. Running to the lake she leaned over it, tears streaming down her snow white face. Hitting the lake they did not break, but floated gently to the bottom, attracting small fish with their bright glow. Blinking away the tears she watched as the fish swarmed around the tear crystals as if they gave them warmth and life. Gently she reached down and dipped her fingers into the water. Instead of fleeing the small fish came to her, letting her stroke their sides. 'I want to skate, to fly about the ice,' she thought, the idea springing up from her heart, from somewhere deep inside her memory. She looked at the water that shone in the Moon light, and it froze underneath her gaze. Some how it did not surprise her, her heart was to sore, too full of tears too let her mind take notice. Usagi stepped out on the ice and skates appeared on her feet. She accepted them and began to skate, slowly at first and then faster and faster, spinning and twirling as if out of controll. @-->-->--- Mamoru reached the park and walked quietly to the rose gardens, but they did not hold the luster, the mystery that they usually did. Disappointed he walked around the lake and sat under a tree, enjoying the solitude. Laying back he stared up at the Moon, wondering if anyone ever lived there. After an hour of staring he became aware of a second presence in the park. Sitting up he watch as the girl from earlier, Usagi, walked from the rose gardens to the lake. She knelt down at the lake side and began to cry, her shoulders shaking with the strength of her tears. Mamoru longed to go over to her and hold her, telling her that there was no reason to cry, that he would be there for her. His heart cried out in pain, as if her tears were daggers striking his heart. But something helped him in place, something stopped him from moving to her and kept him sitting there. Slowly the girl's shoulders stopped shaking and her tears subsided. She seemed to be staring at something down in the water, and she reached her hand in to touch it. A small smile graced her face, but even at a distance Mamoru could see that sandess still dominated it. His heart felt relief at the stop of her tears. He could not bear to see her cry. Suddenly Usagi stood, a look of determination crossing her face. She looked at the lake and to his surprise it froze beneath her stare. She stepped out onto the icy water and skates appeared on her feet. Despite his surprise somehow Mamoru felt it was right that it should happen, as if the girl before him truly did command a universe of power. Usagi began to skate, faster and faster. Her dance became wild and sad, portraying her feelings. Somehow the sight of her dance lightened his heart. Slowly he stood and he too walked over to the ice. Stepping on skates appeared on his own feet. Mamoru felt as if he were being drawn, drawn toward the girl on the lake. 'But it must be snowing, it was snowing when I met her before,' his heart told him. Looking to the sky, the heavens opened to his call and soft snow flakes began to fall from the sky. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a locket, one that was shaped like a star. Carefully he slipped the chain around his neck and skated toward her slowly. @-->-->--- Usagi stopped dancing and looked up at the sky. Soft snow flakes were falling gently down upon her, blocking her vision. She looked about her, for some reason that they may have begun to fall. It was then that she noticed a form skating toward her. Usagi waited for it, her heart rate picking up as he came closer. The man skated up and stood before her, just looking at her. She recognized him quickly, he was the man that she had run into twice that day. The man that her heart screamed out to, begging her not to turn away from him, and this time she did not plan to. "I promised you once that no mater what happened, what they did to separate us, that we would always find a way to get back together," he whispered to her. "And I have kept my promise, I found you again, Serenity, my Usako." Usagi's breath caught in her throat. Memories came flooding back in seconds and all her dreams became clear. "Mamochan!" she cried, the name ripping from her throat as she hurled herself into his waiting arms. The two slid to their knees together, just holding each other as she sobbed into his shirt. His own tears trickled slowly down his face and landed gently in her hair. But soon the sobs and tears subsided, leaving only joy in both their hearts. Slowly Mamoru stood up, bringing his little Usako with him. Bowing to her slightly he asked her, "Princess Serenity, would you care to dance?" Serenity giggled softly and took his offered hand. Swiftly he pulled her into himself and they began to dance and twirl together on the ice. The locket that hung from Mamoru's neck fell open and a soft tune drifted out across the lake and into the park. @-->-->--- A man walked along the street and saw the couple dancing upon the water. He felt himself drawn over to the lake and he knelt before them, despite the fact that he did not know who they were. The couple noticed him and stopped dancing, skating swiftly over to him, the girl giggling. They did not seem surprised that he would kneel before him, but instead looked as though they expected it. "You may rise, Seiya," the girl told him, calling him by name. He stood slowly, awed that she would speak to him. "Go home now, you need your rest," the young man told him. Nodding Seiya set off, feeling as though he had just met the Queen and King of the Universe. @-->-->--- Laughing Usagi pulled away from Mamoru after the man left. "Remember the first night on the ice? The time when you first made it snow for me? Well . . . let us see if you can catch me this time!" and with the last words she sped off across the lake, laughing. Mamoru quickly set out after her, gaining on her with each step. Soon he caught up with her and trapped her in his arms. "This time I know better than to let you gather the snow," he whispered in her ear as he pulled her close to him. "No, this time there will be no snow down my back." "Did I do that?" Usagi asked him, giggling, "I would never do such a thing . . . But I still say that I can beat you in a sword fight any day!" She said, her eyes glistening with laughter. "And I still say that I am better. Perhaps tomorrow we can see, but I doubt we can find a fighting rink tonight." "We could . . . " but Mamoru stopped Usagi from speaking my kissing her lightly. "No, Usako, I have no desire to fight you tonight," he told her when he pulled back. And so saying he bent down to kiss her again, this time with more passion. Like it had all those years before energy built up between them, restoring them to what they had been. Wings stretched out from their backs, black on Mamoru's and white on Usagi's. Armor surrounded his body and her pants and shirt became a long, glowing white gown. Her hair turned silver and a crescent moon shone forth on her forehead. A flash of energy resounded when the energy built up between them, too great for their human bodies to hold. A scream issued from both their mouths, resounding out over sleeping Tokyo. When the flash of light cleared Princess Serenity stood, flying above the ground, with Prince Endymion standing beside her, arms wrapped about her small body. Their minds once again intertwined with each other's, no longer cut off by the restrictions of their human bodies. Carefully Endymion took the star locket front around his neck and fastened it around Serenity's. "You gave me this to remember you by, I have kept it for the last thousand years. It is now your turn to hold it again," he whispered to her. Serenity looked up at him with her star filled eyes, the depth that he had always loved returned to them. her hair flowed silver down her back, accenting her pure white skin. Endymion bent over and kissed the base of her neck gently. "You know, I am glad that we kept these roses, I recognized it on your neck this morning," he told her, a smile written into his voice. Gently she reached up and pushed his collar back, "You hid your rose from me, but my heart told me that it was you, for no one else makes my heart beat the way that you do. I have waited for you so long, so long to come back for me, but it was all worth the wait, as long as I have you now." She gently lifted herself up with her wings until she could look into his stormy blue eyes. "Prince Endymion of Terra, MY Mamochan, I love you," she told him, letting herself fall a little to lean her head against his chest. Tilting her head up he replied in kind, "Princess Serenity of the Moon Kingdom, MY Usako, I fully except you to keep your promise to me, just because it is one thousand years later is no excuse, I still expect you to marry me." Usagi tried to pout, but it became more like a smile gracing her angelic face, "And I thought I could get out of it, I should have known better. You never let me out of anything." "You never ask." Endymion took Serenity's small hand up in his own and slipped a familiar looking ring onto her finger. Serenity smiled up at him, joy filling her heart, and thereby filling his as well. Slowly he leaned over and kissed her, gently ay first and then more passionately. Their thoughts reached out and wrapped around each other. 'Aishiteru Mamochan," she thought out to him. 'Aishiteru, Usako. Aishiteru," he replied in kind, deepening the kiss. @-->-->--- THE END! That's right people, the long awaited end is finally here! You have been waiting for this for months and you finally have it! Congradulations! I bet you are jumping up and down with joy now that it is over, aren't you?! Well, you know what, This is the end, there is going to be no more "A White Rose, A Red Rose" appearing on ASMR. The familiar title will be gone after this week. I can hear the cheers of joy sounding out from you all. "Good Riddance to a waste of space!" you cry! Well, if you think that, how on Terra did you get so far in the story? Anyhow, PLEASE e-mail me and tell me what you think of the ending! It took me forever to write, I could not decide how to end it, so I hope you are happy with what I decided upon. Please don't be mad at me, I had to end it eventually, I could not keep it up much longer, but tell me what you thought of my ending, and should I do more? Or should I just leave it here? Should I write another story, or do I give up my writing career now? PLEASE tell me what you think! Just a little e-mail is all it takes! PLEASE!!! Anything you want to say is welcomed, just say it! Flames, tears, anything! Oh, and read Chichiri's story "New Snow" it is REALLY cool! And PLEASE e-mail me! And also send me disclaimer ideas, I need more! Thanks a ton! Ja Ne and God bless you! Miaka feeling as though he had just met the Queen and King of the Universe. @-->-->---